Amusement device



Patented Apr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved amusement device and has,for one of its principal objects, the provision of means for supplyingoptical enjoyment to spectators as well as to the actual participants.

An important object of this device is to provide a game of skill thatinhibits a competitive spirit among the contestants and provides thrillsfor any onlookers.

Another important object of the device of this invention lies in thenovelty of its construction in combination with its operation anddependence on the law of gravity for its operation.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of apastime that will undoubtedly become a favorite because of its actionand attractiveness in such a limited amount of space.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and followingspecifica-tion.

The invention, in a preferred form, is shown in the drawing andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the amusement device of this invention.

Figure 2 shows a sectional detail of a portion of the device shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section of a trough as used in this apparatus.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the base plate of this device.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a modified form of the invention incorporating a.starting device.

Figure 7 is another modification wherein the speed of the rolling ballmay be increased.

Figure 8 is a still further modification showing retarding means for thedescent of the spherical object.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral Ill indicates generally the base of this amusementdevice on each end of which uprights l2 and M are positioned. Inclinedtroughs l6. l8 and 2D interconnect these uprights l2 and I4 and form acontinuous path or track from the uppermost position to the base boardID.

This game or amusement device can be made and operated for any sizesimply by using a correspondingly sized spherical object. The game ispreferably played with marbles, but could be played with bowling ballsif so desired. A marble is dropped in the opening 22 at the top of theupright 12 from where it falls until it hits the end of the trough Hi.This end of the trough I6 is inserted into a cut-out portion of theupright I2 until it completely covers the central hole 22 of thisupright as shown by the dashed lines of the drawing in Figure 1. Theball or marble then rolls down the inclined trough l6 toward the upright14.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of the trough having a V shaped groove24. This V shaped groove 24 forms an excellent track for the sphere ormarble 25 shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail section of the lower end of the troughl6 connected to the upright l4 and also the central channel of thisupright communicating with the middle trough E8. The marble 26 rollsover the end of the trough l6 and then downward through the channel 28of this upright l4 until it hits the trough l8 which is similar incross-section to the trough 16. The enlarged View of Figure 2 willsufiice to show also the inner construction of the portion where theelements Iii-l2 and 20 meet and also the meeting place of the elements2!! and M.

The marble continues down the inclined trough l8 to the central channel30 of the upright I2 where it falls to the trough 2D, whence it travelsdown the trough 20 to the second central channel 32 in the upright 14.This channel 32 is not the same as the other, however, be-

cause it just goes slightly downward and then curves out to an opening34 on the inner face of the upright l4.

During its descent, the marble has gained considerable momentum andinstead or just dropping out of this opening 34, it comes out with aspeed suflicient to propel itself to the opposite end of the baseboardill. This baseboard Ill, having raised sides 35, is equipped with holesor depressions 36 located strategically over an area near the oppositeend of the opening 34. The marble 26 or sphere used, either drops intoone of these depressions or else misses them entirely. Each depression36 is given a different scoring count, and in this way, a total score iskept for each. individual dropping the marbles. The game can be playedwith one or more contestants, and either one or any number of marblesmay be used. The total score is obtained by adding the numbers oppositeeach hole where a ball has fallen. The game provides a number of thrillsin addition to the marbles hitting or missing the holes. The ball ormarble 26 traveling down the troughs and through the uprights presents avery pleasing sight to the eye, and the actual demonstration of the lawof gravity'attracting this spherical object from the top to the bottomof the apparatus makes it exceptionally entertaining. For this reason,the device of this invention will make an excellent window display. Themarbles can be bright in color and may be of many different hues. To beused as a window display as abovementioned, some outside mechanical liftwill be necessary to carry the marbles to the top and drop them outagain in order to provide :a continuous operation.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are modifications of the device as heretofore shown.As best shown in Figure 6, a trough 38 similar to H is provided with apush-button 40 held in a forward position by the spring 42. The button40 is supplied with a shank 44 that slides through a bearing 46. The endof the shank 44 has a tapered flange 48 which is used as a grippingmeans. To work this starting device for the marble, the shank and buttonare pulled back by a retracting of the flange 48, thus compressing thespring 42. The marble is placed in front of the button and the flangereleased, causing the button 40 to strike the marble 2E sending it alongits way. It is possible with this starting device to slow down or speedup the marble, as it is deemed necessary, to get the marble to fall intoa hole. Further control means are shown in Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7shows a spring 50 for increasing the velocity of the descending marble.The spring 50 is attached to the inner face of a channel 52 in anupright 54 at 56 by screws, nails, rivets or some other suitableattaching means. The spring curves inward at 58, thus partially blockingthe path of the falling marble 2B. When the marble does squeeze by thisspring, it presses the spring against the wall 54. This puts the springunder tension and when the marble passes this inward curved portion 58,the lower portion 60 snaps back and gives it a push on its way. This isall done within the confines of one of the uprights without any outsideattention, but it is possible to provide a spring-retained push-button62, and when the player believes his marble to be passing that point, hecan give the button a push and speed up the ball in addition to theautomatic speeding up. Figure 8 shows an automatic retarding device. Aspring-retained button 64 constricts the channel passage, and the marble26, when falling through, is slowed down considerably. This is notgenerally controllable from the outside, but the button 64 can be pulledout of the Way by the knob 66, thus eliminating any retardation of thedescending marble.

, This is an interesting amusement device, and it is very economical tomanufacture. The device is easy to operate and will undoubtedly soonbecome a favorite pastime with the peoples of this world of ours.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction varied throughout a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limitingthe patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the priorart.

I claim as my invention:

1. A game of skill, comprising a falling sphere in combination with astructure having a base with depressions therein, uprights at each endof the base, central channels in portions of the uprights, springs inthese channels to increase the speed of the falling sphere, inclinedtroughs connecting the uprights and forming the tracks on which thesphere descends.

2. A game of skill, comprising a falling sphere in combination with astructure having a base with depressions therein, uprights at each endof the base, central channels in portions of the uprights, springs inthese channels to increase the speed of the falling sphere, inclinedtroughs connecting the uprights and forming the tracks on which thesphere descends, and the sphere rolling out onto the base and tending tofall into one of the depressions.

3. A game of skill, comprising a falling sphere in combination with astructure having a base with depressions therein, uprights at each endof the base, central channels in portions of the uprights, springs inthese channels to increase the speed of the falling sphere, inclinedtroughs connecting the uprights and forming the tracks on i which thesphere descends, and the sphere rolling out onto the base and tending tofall into one of the depressions, and outer control means for thesprings in the channels.

- 4. A game of skill, comprising a falling sphere in combination with astructure having a base with depressions therein, uprights at each endof the base, central channels in portions of the up rights, springs inthese channels to retard the speed of the falling sphere, inclinedtroughs connecting the uprights and forming the tracks on which thesphere descends, and the sphere rolling out onto the base and tending tofall into one of the depressions.

FRANK LESLIE BIDDLE.

